As I write this late on Sunday night, it is raining here cats and dogs. When was the last time you heard that old expression used? Not only is it raining cats and dogs, but it is lightning and thundering to beat the band. There’s you another expression from yesteryear. Any way, I do hope you had a terrific week last week. Mine was O K --- not much to brag about, but a few praise reports to share. First, Miss Bessie took an awful spill last Monday, but other than being real sore, it looks like no permanent damage was done. The praise report is that she is alright. She got out of the car to mail a few letters, and did not know there was a drop off of about three inches. It was just enough to make her lose her balance and go down. Like I said, she’s pretty sore and quite bruised, so I know she would appreciate your prayers. Our second praise report is that our car is still running, but getting worse with each turn of the wheel. We still have the problem with the cracked intake manifold. To fix it would cost about nine hundred dollars. That’s pretty steep when you consider the car has about one hundred sixty five thousand miles on it. It has been a real good car, but I fear it has seen its better days. With a poor economy, a trade would be impossible at this time, so Pastor Vic and Bess would appreciate your prayers in this matter. We do not know what else to do except leave it in the hands of the Lord. In the mean while, does anybody have a one eyed, three legged, pigeon toed, flopped eared mule for sale??? Beggars can’t be choosers, you know. (Another of those old expressions I seem to be filled with this week.)
Yesterday morning I preached from Matthew chapter 7, the first five verses. This was the second in a two part series on judging others. Jesus said in verse one, “Don’t judge.” However, last week, Paul said it was OK to judge. So who do we listen to, Paul or Jesus? Some would answer, “Obey Jesus over Paul.” Although in man’s logic, that sounds correct, remember what Paul taught in 1 Corinthians 2:11-16 was inspired by the Holy Spirit, so it cannot be ignored. You can relax though. Paul and Jesus are not contradicting each other. There are no contradictions in God’s word. Quite simply, they were speaking to two different audiences: Paul to believers, and Jesus to scribes, Pharisees, and hypocrites. Jesus reminded them to be careful about how they judged because the same overtly high standards they used would be used on them. For those of you who might want it for your personal Bible study, Here is the outline I used to preach the message.
Intro: Last week we learned that sometime we must make judgments concerning both things and people. We learned that to be a spiritual judge, certain criteria must be met. Today we hear Jesus addressing those who had not met the criteria and had no right to judge.
I. v. 1 Jesus’ command --- Don’t judge!
A. Plain and simple -- do not do it.
1. Dilemma: Jesus said do not judge. Paul said to judge. Who do we listen to?
B. Biblical Hermeneutics --- The science of Biblical interpretation.
1. Who was Paul speaking to? Believers
2. Who was Jesus speaking to? Scribes, Pharisees, hypocrites, etc…
II. v 2 What goes around, comes around!
A. The above statement is the end result of the Golden Rule. “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them…”
Matthew 7:12a
B. You set the standard --- how do you want to be judged?
C. The better question is: How do you judge? What standards do you measure by?
III. vv 3,4 Can a blind surgeon operate?
A. Matthew 7:3-4 (GW) So why do you see the piece of sawdust in another believer's eye and not notice the wooden beam in your own eye? [4] How can you say to another believer, 'Let me take the piece of sawdust out of your eye,' when you have a beam in your own eye?
B. You can’t remove something small from another’s eye when your own vision is obstructed.
C. Jesus is saying several things:
1. You’re like a blind surgeon trying to operate.
2. You’ve got your own problems, deal with them.
3. You are judging others by a standard higher than by which you wish to be judged.
4. You consider your self flawless and your neighbor flawed.
IV. v 5 Hypocrite! Fake!! Phony!!!
A. Hypocrite> an actor playing a part.
1. In Shakespeare’s day an actor was known as a hypocrite.
B. What role is this actor playing? One of two;
either:
1. that of one who is righteous,
or
2. that of a spiritual judge.
C. Which ever, Jesus sees right through it.
Conclusion: Remember, to be a spiritual judge, one must be saved, be walking with God, be Spirit led, and be a prayer warrior. Anything short of that leads to disqualification and includes many sitting in churches today all across the world. This is the crowd Jesus was talking to in Matthew 7:1-5. Was He speaking to you? At this point in the message, the Holy Spirit has already answered that question for you.
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